The progressive farmer. [volume] (Winston, N.C.) 1886-1904, 1887-05-26
AN ARGUMENT.

haze to wear this dress, because nv
only other white M that is clean !,
too tight for anything it hurts me- 80
that 1 can hardly breathe"
"I'm sorry, daughter" the MANN.
said, with an equally determined face.
"but you surely see that such a deli'
cate muslin as that you have on is not
suitable to wear to lawn party. Il
will tear as easily as lace"
"But I've got to wear it, YOU sea-
said Minnie, with atouch ofimpatienco
in her voice. "You don't want me II
wear tight clothes, you know"
"And what reason have you found
for wearing that broad blue sash ?"
"Well mamma, you know it is the
only one that matches nicely with this
dress and these stockings, and THINGS
ought to match"
ayes ; and why must the STOCKINGS
be worn 2"
"Oh, WE'LL. said Minnie, catching
an end of the sash and twisting it, II
suppose I could wear other stockings
but I thought with my nice new sin,
pers these would look the prettiest.
and I didn't think you would care"
"Does it seem to you that mice
new slippers that were bought to
wear only in the house, are the proper
things for lawn parties ?'
"No'm but I had to put them on.
My boots have the ugliest great nails
sticking into my toes ; 1 could hardly
walk around last night so, of course,
I had to put on the slippers"
Very grave looked the mamma. 1t
was a sad fact that she had never
heard Of the dress that was too tight,
or of the fearful nails in the high-but,
toned kid boots, until this moment.
Could it be possible that her little
daughter was tempted, by her desire
to appear in fine new clothes at the
party, to speak not quite the TRUTH
She sat thinking for a full minute be.
fore she decided that her child needed
a severe lesson.
"Minnie," she said, and the little
girl knew that when her mother spoke
in that tone, and called her by her full
name, there was nc more chance for
argument, "you cannot wear that
dress, and that sash, and those slippers
and stockings, to the lawn party"
Now it was Minnie's turn to con-
slider. She looked down and fitted
the toe of her slippers most carefully
into a figure of the carpet.
"Well," she said at last, drawing a
long sigh, and looking on her heart,
81 suppose [ car 60 and change all
my things; but [ shall be very late.
1t is time to go now"
EYES," said the mother, her face
most sad, "you may change all your
things. Put on the calico that you
wore this morning, and your every
day boots"
mamma p gasped Minnie, "dont
you mean to let me 60 to the party?'
"There is nothing for you to wear,
my daughter. | suppose you would
not like to go in your everyday
clothes, and you say your other white
dress is too tight, and the nails in your
kid boots hurt your feet. So, OF
course, you will have to stay home. II
I had heard of this before, | could
have altered the dress and had the
boots put in order but you know you
have never said anything about it be-
Then was Minnie's face very RED.
~ can wear them, mamma" she said,
turning away. "They are not very
comfortable, but I can stand it."
"No, daughter, I cannot allow you
to stand it. You know [ do not
wish you to dress so you a hardly
BREATHE nor wear shoes in which you
can hardly walk around L see
nothing for you but to remain al
Then did poor Minnie burst into a
food of tears! She poured the words
out very fast. Her dress was not TOO
she did not have any trouble 70
breathe, and her shoes did not hurt
her but just a speck, and she coulo
them as we'll as not.
"Minnie I" said her mother, break.
ing into the midst of this storm Oh
"Then what have you been
your mother? {"
Poor little Minnie 1t was a lesson
She went to no lawn party that after
noon ; she sat on the back piazza III
her dark calico dress and thick boots,
and sobbed. She had grown so useo
to making little bits of things lnto